Playing Online

Now that I feel I am used to the game of Madden, and have picked up a couple of cool advantages (some would call them "cheats") along the way, I feel ready to play other random people in the game.  You play Madden 10 online by having an Xbox Live account and playing a ranked opponent in the lobby.  Once the game loads, you pick your teams and the game is on - everyone has a record.  It appears like this on the screen (W/L) DNF: %.  The DNF is the Did Not Finish percentage - people with high ones are not as good.  The first guy I played had a record of 21/39, with a 25% DNF.  I figured if I blew him out he would quit, but I figured I wouldn't since it was my first ever game online.

My opponent selected the Eagles, and I played with the Cowboys.  I won the game 31-28 on a last second, 52 yard field goal.  After the game, the guy sent me a message on my Xbox - "lucky *** win you noob" and I chose to not respond.  I supposed in retrospect it was a rather lucky win - twice I made Michael Vick fumble in the red zone with me recovering it - he only punted once.  I guess I have found a new advantage - when poor or inexperienced players get "hit-stuck" they are more likely to fumble than players with good awareness.  My offense worked well though, especially the play I previously discussed of Cross Weak Flood over the middle to Jason Witten.  I ended with 7 catches for 128 yards and 2 touchdowns for Witten, my all-Pro tight end.

I guess after playing online (which was a lot of fun) I need to work on my defense a little more, figuring out how to force more punts and defend the pass much better.  My offense though appears ready for battle.

TE Cross, and the Importance of a Fast Slot Receiver

I was excited to read a response from a Stanford student who mentioned plays where two eligible receivers cross on drag routes typically work.  I decided to peruse the playbook of certain teams until I found a play where this could work.  I tried the play TE Cross, where the quarterback lines up under center, with two receivers on each side of the ball and a tight end on the right side of the line and an empty backfield.  The play can be found under Ace Empty formation.  

The Stanford student claimed that the left slot receiver (running a drag to the right) and the tight end (running a drag to the left) would cross and one of them would be open guaranteed - if the defense was in a zone, a gain of 4 to 5 yards would ensue if the correct target was chosen, and if the defense was in a man-to-man, the slot receiver could easily gain a first down.  I decided to test this theory.  Running the play with the Dolphins, I could not seem to get the play to work every time.  When the defense was in man, Camarillo the receiver and Fasano the tight end never could break away.  So I switched teams to the Vikings, with Harvin and Shiancoe at those positions.  Once I did this, I realized that as long as your players have speed, the play will work almost flawlessly, but they need that speed to separate from defenders.  Harvin was a 98 speed (one of the highest on the game) and Shiancoe an 80 (good for a tight end).  Camarillo was only an 83 speed (poor for a receiver, though upon checking he does have good hands and catch ability) and Fasano was a 72 speed (subpar).

In conclusion, the Stanford student was correct that a play like this works almost every time, as long as the players crossing have good speed.  If not, and the defense is in a man, you are liable to throw an interception if you do not lead the receiver perfectly with the throw.

Plays that always work

So I know this blog is late but I have had so much other work I haven't had an opportunity to play Madden (thus nothing to write about).  However, I took some time this afternoon and came back with some astounding results. 

Playing with the Chiefs, I discovered some plays that simply cannot be stopped by the Computer's AI.  One of these plays is Cross Weak Flood, which lines up out of the shotgun with a runningback on each side of the quarterback, a tight end in the slot, and receivers on each side.  If the computer is in a man to man defense, the runningbacks will be open almost all the time at the beginning of the play because the linebackers covering them won't react to the play in time.  If the computer is in a zone, the receivers running down field, and sometimes the TE down the middle will be open.  Just make sure you throw it to the right person and its easy as pie.

I also discovered that running HB Dive on the 1 yard line, and moving a TE in motion in front of your fullback and then snapping the ball is impossible to stop - automatic touchdown.  These plays will be large components of my offensive array in coming games I play.  

That's all for now.  GO SAINTS TONIGHT!